Two of the country’s active volcanoes—Kanlaon in Negros Island and Taal in Batangas—showed renewed activity on Monday, October 20, emitting ash and steam plumes that signaled continued unrest, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said ash emissions occur when volcanic gas and pressure escape from within the volcano, carrying fine and dry materials from the crater.
Kanlaon Volcano released grayish ash plumes reaching up to 300 meters high and drifting west-northwest due to volcanic gas release and pressure buildup inside the volcano.
Bacolcol described the event as “expected for Kanlaon” since it remains under Alert Level 2, or moderate unrest.
In Batangas, Taal Volcano also recorded a one-minute minor phreatomagmatic eruption at its main crater, producing steam-rich plumes about 500 meters high.
Phivolcs kept Taal under Alert Level 1, indicating possible sudden steam-driven eruptions, volcanic earthquakes, thin ashfall, and gas emissions.
Bacolcol said minor eruptions like this happen “almost every month” in Taal, describing Monday’s activity as typical of the volcano’s behavior.
Phivolcs continues to monitor both volcanoes and advised residents to remain alert and follow local authorities’ safety guidelines.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.